Blackpool's Jake Daniels has become the first current UK male professional footballer to come out as gay

He told Sky Sports: "I told my mum and my sister. The day after we played Accrington and I scored four, so it just shows how much of a weight off the shoulders it was and a massive relief.

"Now is the right time to do it. I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. I want people to know the real me...

"Of course I am aware that there will be a reaction to this and some of it will be homophobic, maybe in a stadium and on social media.

"It's an easy thing for people to target. The way I see it is that I am playing football and they are shouting stuff at me, but they are paying to watch me play football and I am living my life and making money from it. So shout what you want, it's not going to make a difference.

"I won't stop people from saying that stuff, I just need to learn how to not let it affect me. I am hoping that by coming out, I can be a role model, to help others come out if they want to.

"I am only 17 but I am clear that this is what I want to do and if, by me coming out, other people look at me and feel maybe they can do it as well, that would be brilliant."

Jake has had a positive reaction from his club and teammates and was happy to come out because he didn't want to live a lie.

He said: "I have been thinking for a long time about how I want to do it, when I want to do it. I know now is the time. I am ready to be myself, be free and be confident with it all.

"I can't really put a date on it, but I was probably five or six years old when I knew I was gay. So it's been a long time that I have been living with the lie.

"At that age you don't really think that football and being gay doesn't mix. You just think, one day, when I'm older I'll get a girlfriend and I will change and it will be fine.

"For a long time I've thought I would have to hide my truth because I wanted to be, and now I am, a professional footballer. I asked myself if I should wait until I've retired to come out. No other player in the professional game here is out.

"However, I knew that would lead to a long time of lying and not being able to be myself or lead the life that I want to.

"Since I've come out to my family, my club and my teammates, that period of overthinking everything and the stress it created has gone. It was impacting my mental health. Now I am just confident and happy to be myself finally."

The late Justin Fashanu became the first openly gay male British footballer in 1990, eight years before he took his own life.

Former Aston Villa star Thomas Hitzlsperger and ex-Hull City player Thomas Beattie spoke about their sexuality after retiring.

A year ago, Josh Cavallo, who plays for Australian side Adelaide United, became the only openly gay top-flight make professional footballer in the world.